A VOYAGE AT SEA, STORM, AND SHIP‑WRECKED, HOME AGAIN

It was a bright, but windy day when we were to start on the voyage. We (my cousin & myself) had already planned the trip. The “Sea-Gull” was a large and beautiful ship, a square-rigged and in good trim for sailing. She was a merchant vessel. Well the da\ arrived for us to start; we were up earily in the morning and started to the docks. There; we could see her roped to the dock. Her sails flapping in the bright morning breaze and her grand masts standing out against the bright sky made a grand and noble sight. My heart seemed to swell within me and made me feel like the “biggest man on earth” as I stepped on that large ship. and realized that I was “going to sea”

Well. it did not take long to get acquainted with the crew for they seemed to be a jolly crowd (20 in number) It was one of those days in the last part of Mar. The wind blowing but still not cold. In the streets a fruff of wind would come all of a sudden and take up a cloud of dust and land it in some passer-by’s eyes. Or would lml’t your hat off your head and carry it down the street 2 – 40.

While other people would laugh at you and call “catch it”, “I’ll bet on you” and the like. The wind promised us a fair sail. The sailors tenned it a “mild Nor-wester.” Well, after becoming acquainted with all the crew and capt and the officers, Bob & myself sought shelter from the wind behind the cabin where we could see the sailors working and lugging at the masts and sails.

They ran about in the rigging like monkeys, everyman seemed inspired with hope and safety of the voyage. At last all was right and the captain emerged from the cabin door and gave the command to “cast oft”^–, immediately two men sprang to the side of the ship and freed the noble ship of the bonds that bound her to the dock as if she were dead. But! as soon as she was freed it seemed as now life had come to her, all sails were set and away she sped. Bounding over the waves as if she were a cork in a basin of water.

0 what a grand feeling ran through inc when I realized that I was on a boat and afloat on the wide sea. Perhaps never to return. As far as Bob was concerned he did not say anything until we were out of the harbor. Then he said in a matter of fact way, “Well, we are off and I suppose we had better make the best of it.” I did not answer because I could not. Thoughts of home and mother and then of that deep and dark sea seemed to keep me from speaking. (This was the first time I had ever been to sea)

Just then a sailor, dressed in rough clothed, but as dark and handsome face stepped up and said, “First time at sea stranger l’s hope ver ill injov thar trip.” I thanked him and was about to ask something, when he was called away and I began to feel queer. I called Bob and told him I was going to bed. He laughed and made fun of me and said I was “sea sick”. I went to bed and slept restlessly all night.

I do not know when Bob went to bed. But I was up before day and had the pleasure of seeing one ofthe grandest sights that can be seen and that was the rising of the sun on the ocean. I was on deck and there away off in the east you could see what seemed to be a bnmtht golden ball just peeping above the surface of the sea. A bright golden path streched from the sun clear across the ocean to our ship. It looked as if you could step off of the vessell and walk to the sun.

l’he capt stepped up to me and asked if I had “Er see thar sun ris” I told him yes but not on the water. Then we went down to breakfast. After breakfast I was on deck a usual I felt fine and thought I would go down in the fore castle and have a chat with the sailors. lhev all greeted inc cordially and! the same to them.

After greeting the sailors began to tell what some people call ^–sailors yarns”. One of them had been shipwrecked exactly 9 times. I think he told me; and another was on a vessell when mutiny broke out, and was shot 13 times and then jumped over board and swam io shore 8 mi. And all that kind of “stutl” until I became frightened.

I went out on deck again and to my astonishment foctnd the sea roaring and raising mountains high. The beautiful sun had disappeared behind the clouds and there were dark clouds frowning down on our small craft compared with those high seas. The ship gave a plunge and down I went the sailors laughed and said that I did not have on my “sealegs.” What a change had taken place! Instead of those blue skies and bright sun, were dark hea’ clouds, the sun had disappeared.

All was dark and tunable. A storm was surely on US a terrible gale was blowing and driving our noble ship before it at a terrible rate. The shouts of the sailors and commands of the captain and mates together with the howl of the wind and screech of the seagulls made a terrible din. 0! what a feeling ran through me as I saw our foretop mast break and fly overboard with a splash. (and hear the cursing and swearing of the crew, seeing our sails being torn to threads.

Finally our main-royal-yards gave way and carne to the deck with a crash there, a chorus of curses. It was a terrible thing night \ as coming on and 0! what a terrible night it was! Men rUSl1lflg about on deck then ordered up the masts. It was grand to see those stout hearted sailors tugging at those ropes and to see that brave and stout hearted captain standing finnlv at the wheel and giving commands through that great trumpet How wild and grand it was. At last I staggered below and threw myself across the bed, for I expected the ship would go to pieces at any minute.

It was now quite late about 11 oclock at night) and still the wind whistled through our rigging and the sea dashed over our decks. All at once a terrible “crash” was heard and felt as the ship shook from stem to stern I rushed on deck! to hear the sailors and the captain shouting “We are lost!” “struck a rock!” “She is foundering” Just then the cook passed by inc and said “Unh! may thar Lord sarve we us from ar horrable death” Then a cry was heard above all “Lower the boats”

The ship was sinking, as she had struck a rock. And all hands rushed to the boats. I of course was one of the first to get in the boat as I was frightened. Well we all crowded in two boats and rowed away on that terrible sea. The wind began to go down and toward morning it had abated entirely. But the sea was still rough and our boats were tossing about like corks. But “after the storm comes the sunshine” And to our great joy the sun rose clear the next morning. One of the sailors had got his ann broken and 3 or 4 others had recieved cuts but not to amount to anything. We had, in fact, got oil’ lucky.

01 how 1 wished I was home. It was now about Ii) o’clock in the morning and I could see Bob brave and handsome standing in the ho\v of the boat When all of a sudden he pointed to the vest and then gave a shout that rang through our ears. “A sail! a ship! steerting this way.” ‘Then went tip shouts of joy from the crew. The little Irishman said, “Py sheering I’m hungry” I could not help laughing nor could the sailors. At last the great English ship saw us and stopped. We were taken on board. And as luck would have it she was bound for New Yorkjust where we had started from with hearts full of hope and joy.

And when we landed 2 days after with hearts full of dispair. But yet 0. how happy to thank God had spared our lives and let us come home to mother again. The last thing I saw of the little Irish man he was standing on the dock talking with a friend andjust as I passed he said, “Py shunny that war er blow” Well Bob and I went home and told all that had happened. They had heard of the ship being lost and thought we were too. But 0 how glad they were to see us and how thankful we were to let them see us. So ended our sea voyage. But, after all God rules the ocean as well as on the land.

H. E. Middleton